Scouting, Volume 48, Number 7, October 1960 Page: 23
40 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Scouting's Men of Vision
By E. URNER GOODMAN
Founder of the Order of the Arrow and for many years Scout executive of the
Philadelphia and Chicago councils, and national Program Division director.
i en of great vision dreamed the outreach of
Scouting and drew its blueprints. Its high purpose be-
came clear in the beginning days and that purpose has
never wavered.
I remember how the simple, direct declaration of
Scouting's purpose and idealism drew able men to help
with eagerness. This, in my experience, was true of
all echelons of Scout leadership, especially the highest—
the Scoutmasters.
The story of Scouting's beginning and growth is, I
am convinced, much the same all over America. There
was a need for a movement such as this. American
communities eagerly embraced Scouting. Spark-plug
men here and there gave leadership to crystallizing
community interest in Scouting's behalf.
When the movement was just getting under way and
a group of men in my own Philadephia were searching
about for an office for the newly formed council, it
seemed natural for them to locate the office—where?
Whv—-in Independence Hall! And they did.
If you had been a boy then, wouldn't you have been
thrilled to have your Scout council's office located in
such a place? If you were a Scouter taking part in an
early-day roundtable held in such a historical spot,
you'd feel a special sense of high purpose, wouldn't
you. when the statehouse bell would boom out eleven
o'clock, signifying time for adjournment? Those Scout-
ers of 1911 did. too.
Of course, boys were to have lots of fun in this new
Scouting scheme; they were to learn practical skills of
camping, first aid, and signaling. But even more vivid
in their thinking and in the thinking of their leaders,
thev were to help other people. They were young knights
of their day on a quest, eager and ready to help others.
They were to do dramatic Good Turns.
Three hundred carefully chosen Scouts went to the
Gettysburg reunion of the Blue and the Gray in 1913,
and rendered long-remembered service.
The service of the World War I years, to be repeated
and expanded a quarter of a century later in another
world war, demonstrated beyond doubt that Scouts
were truly prepared to help and were motivated by a
deep desire to be of aid to their country.
We found in those early days even as today, that when
people understood and recognized the purpose and
ideals of a movement like Scouting, they were eager to
share in furthering them. Patriotic organizations found
great satisfaction on presenting American flags to newly
organized Scout troops. Dr. R. Tait McKenzie created
the Boy Scout statue. John Philip Sousa thrilled America
with his "Boy Scout March." Edgar A. Guest wrote
his tribute to leaders called "The Scoutmaster." Edwin
Markham wrote a verse called "The Knight of Today."
J. C. Leyendecker inspired America with his Scout
posters. Norman Rockwell began to interpret boys in
magazine illustrations. These tributes of gifted men
helped greatly in Scouting's early days.
Right from the beginning, Scout leaders stated in
clear terms their belief in each man's dependence on a
vital religious life in order to live at his best. Scouting
wisely did not attempt to suggest a particular religious
belief for any boy. But Scouting did add its influence
in pointing out and emphasizing that every boy and
adult needs a working religion—a recognition of God
and a desire to work with Him. Scouting stressed that
each should be faithful in his own religious duties.
Whether Catholic, Protestant, or Jew, he needs to be
the best that he can discover how to be.
Scouting's high purpose grew deeper and reached
farther as the years went by. It early developed a body
of consecrated volunteers. Men—and women— rendered
the kind of service to boys, to institutions, and to com-
munities that could not be paid for. Scouters by the
million have demonstrated the practical application of
the volunteer ideal. The Scout movement has helped
strengthen and bring honor to the volunteer who serves
his community and nation in various other ways as
well as through Scouting.
Scouting has built on America's heritage. We have
stressed Good Turns to institutions, to communities, and
to our nation. The phrase "A Good Scout" is understood
up and down main street.
We look back in admiration to Scouting's leaders of
the first half century. There was vigor in their step. They
marched not in the band of the purposeless, but on a
crusade "For God and Country."
23
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 48, Number 7, October 1960, periodical, October 1960; New Brunswick, New Jersey. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth329289/m1/25/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.